Cheese Party Appetizers: Cheeseballs and Cheese Logs

Having guests? These delicious appetizers are easy to serve—and even easier to eat.

Pomegranate cheeseball

A tart goat cheese with herbs is hidden under pomegranate seeds: your appetizer table will look very festive.

Recipe: Cheese balls with pomegranate

Cheese Log with Ranch Dressing

Trisha's Cheese Log is the perfect snack or appetizer for a holiday party. For a beautiful presentation, roll the log in chopped pecans and serve with crackers or bagel chips.

Recipe: Cheese Log with Ranch Sauce

Italian cheeseball

Add a touch of Italian flavor with this easy, decadent cheeseball. Smoked provolone, briny olives, salami, artichoke hearts, and roasted red peppers are combined with cream cheese and then topped with a layer of toasted pine nuts.

Recipe: Italian cheese ball

Three cheese logs

Garlic cream cheese forms the base for three cheese log varieties: Cheddar & Parsley, Sharp Cheddar & Pecan, and Pizza.

Recipe: Three types of cheese log

Pretzel-Breaded Cheese Balls

These miniature cheese balls pack a punch with smoked Gouda cheese, a hint of cayenne pepper, and a salty pretzel crust.

Recipe: Cheese balls topped with pretzel crumbs

Savory Mini Cheesecakes

These tiny cheesecakes (actually cheeseballs) will be a unique addition to the appetizer table at your party or get-together with friends.

Recipe: Salty cheesecakes

Goat cheese with fig jam and pumpkin seeds

Katie's Cheese Log is a simple take on a classic appetizer for guests. Katie simply coats goat cheese with fig jam and finishes with pumpkin seeds, salt, and pepper. Delicious, simple, and elegant.

Recipe: Goat cheese log with figs and pumpkin seeds

Pumpkin-shaped cheese ball

This cute version of a cheeseball gets its bright orange color from shredded cheese snacks, and the "spine" is a bell pepper.

Recipe: Pumpkin Cheese Ball

Cheese log with sweet and tangy cranberry relish

The key to this recipe from Valerie is a food processor: she uses it to blitz berries with jalapeño, green onions, and orange zest to make a cream cheese topping for the appetizer.

Recipe: Cheese log with sweet and tangy cranberry relish

Football Cheeseball with Crackers

Make Valerie's cheeseball—this game-watching appetizer will win everyone over. Serve it with store-bought crackers topped with butter and herbs.

Recipe: Cheeseball and herb crackers

Pimento Cheeseball

Who doesn't love cheeseballs on the holiday table? Katie adds pimento peppers, hot sauce, and mayo to recreate the flavors of a classic pimento cheese spread.

Recipe: Pimento Cheese Ball

Cheese log with pistachios

This retro appetizer is inspired by recipes from the 1970s: cheese flavored with lemon and cayenne pepper is topped with pistachios. Don't forget crackers to serve!

Recipe: Cheese log with pistachios

Cheese appetizer "Christmas wreath"

Decorate your table with a festive cheeseball "wreath." Use a small muffin tin with a hole in the center to make the wreath, or roll the mixture into a ball or log. For a cheeseball perfect for any occasion, skip the hole and roll the cheeseball in sliced toasted almonds instead of a colorful decoration.

Recipe: Festive Cheese Wreath Cheeseball

Mini cheese balls

Who said a cheeseball has to be big? This miniature version is topped with a variety of toppings, like bacon, pumpkin seeds, and chopped nuts.

Recipe: Mini cheese balls

Blue Cheese Log

One of the best things about cheese is that it's easy to shape into a log—and food that looks like one is always associated with fun. The nutty flavor of Swiss cheese and the savory taste of blue cheese are balanced by sweet dates and smoky bacon. If a log isn't your thing, serve it as a ball.

Recipe: Cheese log with blue cheese

Snowman Cheeseball

The classic cheeseball is transformed into a festive appetizer with simple ingredients like carrot noses and olive eyes. Serve with savory crackers for the perfect party treat.

Recipe: Cheese appetizer "Snowman"

Cheese pizza dip

This casual, wonderful appetizer is a more elegant way to eat pizza while you watch the game on TV.

Recipe: Cheese ball with pizza toppings

Pumpkin Cheeseball

Shaping this cheeseball is easier than it looks: wrap the cheese ball in plastic wrap before shaping the pumpkin. When you're happy with the result, remove the wrap, place the pumpkin on top, and serve.

Recipe: Pumpkin Cheeseball

Christmas Tree Cheeseball

Want to know how a delicious cheeseball turns into a beautiful Christmas tree? The secret lies in fresh herbs and pomegranate seed "ornaments"!

Recipe: Cheese appetizer "Christmas tree"

Coeur a la crème

Coeur means "heart" in French. The dish's name comes from the heart-shaped mold typically used to make it. Don't worry if you don't have one—the cream cheese mixture can be easily strained through a cheesecloth-lined sieve.

Recipe: Coeur a la crème with herbs